Whitney Gulden
Reporter
Until December 3rd, when you thought of Jersey Shore you would think of the actual place, but now the term Jersey Shore alludes to MTV’s reality TV show of the same name.
Filmed in August, 2009, Jersey Shore follows eight housemates living together in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, working at a boardwalk T-shirt shop, partying all hours, and getting into trouble. The show’s finale on January 21st broke ratings records for MTV with an estimated 4.8 million viewers.
The New York Times has featured stories on the show, (New Jersey, as Real as it Gets and Surf, Skin, and Jersey. What’s Not to Love?) leading to a growing controversy over everything from the use and promotion of tanning beds, to the excessive use of words “guido” and “guidette” which are considered derogatory slurs.
New York Times writer Edward Wyatt said in his December 6th, 2009 article, “MTV, which practically pioneered the genre of installing a group of temperamental, egocentric people in a shared house and filming the experiment, has taken the concept a step further with ‘Jersey Shore’.”
Sophomore Dena Labrie, on the topic of the slur controversy, said, “I think they made it bigger than I was. I don’t hear guido used that much. I didn’t know much about the word until the show.”
Sophomore Mackenzie Curtin said, “I don’t think guido is that bad. Italians like being called guido.”
Castmember Jenni Farley (aka J-WOWW) said in a Press of Atlanta article, “It’s a summer share house where eight people are living together. We choose to act and portray ourselves in this fashion. It’s something that we are proud of, even if we are considered Guidos and Guidettes. We are proud of it at the end of the day because it is a lifestyle that we chose.”
The show has also received a lot of criticism for portraying the Jersey Shore in the negative light of being a crazy, party-centric, and somewhat dangerous area after cast member Nicole Polizzi (aka Snooki) was punched in a bar.
Math teacher Chris Tournas, well known for his love of Jersey Shore, said, “Snooki is my favorite. I feel bad for her and I love her. I ask myself, is she real? She’s like a cartoon.”
Despite the controversies, the Jersey Shore has become a phenomenon, even sparking an SNL skit on Snooki and hundreds of Youtube videos and parodies on the show.
Sophomore Steph Benko offered a possible reason for the shows popularity at our school. “I think it’s just because the whole set up of the show can be slightly compared to New Canaan.”
Mackenzie disagreed that the show compares in any way to New Canaan. “I doubt guys are bringing home girls every night in New Canaan. The closest clubs are in New York, unless you’re partying at the Outback. And I don’t think anyone fist pumps here,” she said.
“I do think they are sterotyping. If there is [any controversy]it is that.” said Mr. Tournas.
Mr. Tournas further described his attraction to the show. “It’s like a time capsule of my hey-day. It’s completely surreal to me. It reminds me of 15-20 years ago. It’s a train wreck that you can’t stop watching.”
